Automatic coupling and release of air on railroad cars



Nv. 26, 1929. E. SCHMOLL 1,737,271

AUTOMATIC COUPLING AND RELEASE OF AIR ON RAILROAD CARS Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet l IZDMZ.

i f/Wew foi?- Nov. 26, 1929. E. scHMoLL 1,737,271

AUTOMATIC COUPLING AND RELEASE OF AIR ON RAILROAD CARS Filed Sept. 5, 1925 2 Sheets-Sheet 2 MII/mf m' II M l'nyenior.

17 7 l 9 A l Patented Nov. 26, 1929 EDWARD scriiuoLL, or numero, wiscoivsrn AUTOMATIC COUPLING AND RELEASE OF, A1B ON'RAILRAD CARS 'Application led September This invention relates to an automatic coupling and releasing device for air pipes on railroad cars.

It has been the usual practice to provide for manual coupling and uncoupling of the air pipes on railroad cars, but as it is well known, this is attended with danger to the operator, and also consumes considerable time.

Objects of this invention are to provide an automatic coupling device for the air pipes on railroad cars which will securely and automatically couple the air pipes in an operative manner whenever the cars are coupled i5 by means of the draw heads or couplers and to provide a device which will maintain the coupling irrespective of relative angular relations existing between the cars.

Further objects of this invention are to provide a simple type of device which employs the same means for centering the air pipe couplers and for maintaining them in tight relation irrespective of the relative angle of the axes of the adjacent cars.

Embodiments of this invention are shown in the accompanying drawings, in which:

Figure 1 is a side elevation of one form of the apparatus showing it in position upon the cars. t

Figure 2 is a view from the under side of Figure 1.

Figure 3 is a side elevation of a modified form.

Figure 4 is a face view of one of the air 35 pipe couplers.

Figure 5 is a longitudinal view through the coupler.

Figure 6 is a perspective view of the couler. 1 p Referring to the drawings, particularly Figures 1 and 2, it will be seen that the .coupler is carried by a frame 4 of substantially inverted Ushape. The coupler comprises a pair of heads 6 which are carried by stems 8. These stems are guided in the rear arm of the U-shaped support 4. The forward end of the coupler is provided with a square shank-9 which ts a correspondingly shaped hole in the forward arm of the U-shaped support.

Further, it will be seen that a spring 5 sur- 5, i925. serial No. 54,853;

rounds the stem 48 and bears its rear end against the rear arm of the support 4, and its forward end against the shoulder formed by the union of the round stem 8 with the square shank 9. A collar 10 prevents the coupler 55 from moving outwardly too far when the device is not in use. The couplers are oined by means of flexible pipes 2 to the train lines 3.

lt is to be understood that the train lines may berused in the usual manner while the couplers are being installed and when the couplers have vbeen installed the end of the train lines may be closed by suitable caps 11.

ln the form shown in` Figurel 1, the ll-sliaped guides are illustrated as mounted upon the frame 1 and the car body. In the form shown in Figure 3, the couplers are sliown'as mounted upon the draw heads 12. The same type of coupler is used in both inountings. I. y .Y .j

Referring to the details of the coupler as` shown in Figures 4 to 6, it will be seen that the coupler is hollow and isadapted to conduct the air therethrough. It' is provided with a movable valve 13 which isv spring pressed against the seat 14. f This valve is provides with'an outwardly projecting head 7 which contacts with the corresponding head of the juxtaposed coupler and thus opens the valve. Obviously, the spring 15 for the valve is materially lighter than the spring 5 so that the couplers are held in tight relation to each other. lt is to be noted from reference to Figure 5 that the coupler is provided with a projecting annular, yielding bushing 16 which extends outwardly beyond the face 6. Consequently when two of these couplers are pressed together the faces of the heads 6 are spaced apart as shown in Figures 1, 2, and 3, and the couplers are adapted to roc-lz relatively to each other while maintaining an air tight jointas the yielding bushings will yield sumciently to allow the slight angular change while remaining in contact with each other.

The means for centering and holding the couplers in correct alignment comprises pins 17 which project outwardly from the head 6 and which are provided with Vcurved faces 18 making the pins substantially conical. These pins lit in Vrecesses 19. The rounded faces of the pins permit rocking of the heads relatively to each other as the rounded surfaces freely slide in and out of the apertures 19.

It will be seen that a very simple type of coupler has been provided and that the axially rounded or curved faces of the conical pins materially aid in permitting the proper relative motion of the couplers While maintaining an air tight joint.

It willV be seen further that Whenever the cars are disconnected, `the valves 13 automatically close against the seats 14.

Thus, couplers have been provided by this invent-ion which are Wholly automatic in their action and which maintain an air tight joint irrespective of angular motions of the juxtaposed heads of the couplers.

I claim:

In a railway car coupling, opposed U-shaped frames, each frame having one arm formed With a circular aperture and the other arm formed with a rectangular aperture, a circularstem movable through the first opening, a square shank movably mounted in the second opening, an elongated head on the shank transversely of its Vouter end, said shank and head formed With a central bore With a valve seat in the bore, a spring actuated valve normally closed upon the seat, a head on the valvestem movable with the valve and eX- tending beyond the outer face of the first hea-d, an aperture formed in one side of the head and a pin at the other side of the head formed with a curved face adapted to rockably itWithin the aperture of an opposed head, a yieldable gasket surrounding the head on the valve stem, a coil spring on the stem Within the ,U-shaped frame having one of its ends bearing against the inner end of the square shank and its other end bearing against the arm of the U-shaped frame having a circular aperture. y

Y ED. SCHMOLL. 

